Democratic-aligned groups are circling the wagons for Virginia Rep. Tom Perriello, the vulnerable freshman lawmaker who faces a competitive reelection bid against GOP state Sen. Robert Hurt.

The Service Employees International Union will launch a $293,000 ad buy on Thursday targeting Hurt for opposing extending unemployment benefits and declaring that “Hurt voted against helping our workers, our veterans and our families – maybe it’s time to vote against Hurt.”

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POLITICO 44

The spot will air through Oct. 20.

What makes the SEIU’s buy unusual is that it has purchased 900 Gross Ratings Points for cable and broadcast TV in Richmond – a particularly expensive media market that covers only 10 to 12 percent of the district that that the Hurt campaign and the National Republican Congressional Committee and Democratic Congressional Committee has so far shied away from investing in.

The spot will also air in the Roanoke and Charlottesville media markets.

The SEIU’s ad comes as the League of Conservation Voters and Sierra Club launched a joint $74,000 broadcast and cable buy in Charlottesville on Wednesday. The buy will extend through Oct. 26.

The dual buys are something of a thank-you to Perriello, who during his first term in the House voted for a slate of Democratic-sponsored legislation – including the health care bill and, cap-and-trade legislation - despite occupying a conservative-minded 5th District and who has found himself battered by a line of conservative groups on the airwaves, including Americans for Prosperity and Chamber of Commerce.

American Action Network, a conservative group founded by former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, is also poised to air TV ads targeting Perriello. The National Republican Congressional Committee has pitched in around $300,000 in TV ads.

Perriello’s campaign declined to comment on its outside help.

Hurt consultant Chris LaCivita said the Democrat’s air support was proof that he had become an ally of liberal interests.

“Tom Perriello has never been a Congressman for Virginia’s 5th district,” said LaCivita. “He’s been Nancy Pelosi’s – and now – every liberal group and labor union she can muster will ride in and try and save Barak Obama’s favorite Congressman.”